Means and method for making artificial dentures



1943- A. J.,BIGGEIR ETAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES Original Filed Feb. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-l.

Rm S G RG5 O C M E M V Nw I ER WE m AE Nov. 23, 1943/ B|GGER ETAL 2,334,898 MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAI-KING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES Original Filed Feb. 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

INVENTORS ARCHIBALD J. BIGGER ELMER.E, FRANCIS JR Patented Nov. 23, 1943 MEANS AND DIETHOD FOR MAKIN nTiF oIAL DENTUBES Archibald J. Bigger and Elmer E. Francis, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

Refiled for abandoned a 431,982, February 23, 1 t I August 16, 1943,'Serial No. 498,784

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in heretofore known apparatus and method employed in the making of artificial teeth, and particularly relates to means for determining the proper relative positioning of the jaws at the time the teeth normally should efiect contact, the lateral movement of the jaws after such contact has been accomplished, and for accomplishing the transfer of such information to an articulator for use in usual manner thereafter in holding a set of teeth.

It especially relates to those conditions in which all the'teeth of both jaws, or of one jaw only, have been removed or are missing and there is no direct means of determining at just what point in the closure of the jaws such contact should occur.

It is well known that the lower jaw which accomplishes all the movement, eX-tends'rearwardly and upwardly on the opposite sides of the face terminating. in condyles which are shiftably mounted in respective sockets, which effect in combination with the condyles .a hinge move,- ment as the teeth move into biting contact, and as they seat, permit lateral, and forward and backward movement accomplishing .a grinding pplication Serial No; This application movement of the lower on the upper teeth. This grinding movement of the seating surfaces of the teeth is accomplished according to Well known theories along a substantially spherical surface having, according to Count Spec, a ra dius of about four inches, this surface, if produced, lying tangent to the top of thecondyles.

It has further been well known in the practice of making a set of artificial teeth, to introduce between the upper and lower jaws a block or mass of wax softened by warming and by closure of the jaws to obtain impressions of the upper and lower jaws, the wax being cooled and hardened while the jaws are closed, and. from these impressions to make models of the upper and lower jaws on which upper jaw and lower jaw models, base plates are made, to which plates the' are temporarily secured to these base plates, as V by wax, these carriers having forward'extensions which protrude from the mouth,the lo er carrier extension being in the form of 'ahorizont al tablet which is waxed on its uppersurfa'cefor use, and the upper carrier extension adapted 'to detachably receive and support a vertically di'sposed depressible pin which may be lightly pressed into contact with the tablet. Movement of the lower jaws laterally, and backwardfand forward causes thepin to form on the tablet other to reestablish ,normal grinding'conditions, and the scribing of the Gothic trace, reflecting as it should these grinding movements, is often accomplished 'with the mouth under-closed or over-closed, or even with the mouth closing or opening during the scribing of the lines, with troubles resulting that was long considered uhaccountable. It has been generally assumedthat the change in movement about the condylesfrom hinge' Ito shifting movement occur because of th'it'ooth seating. .More careful study of the problem,

however, indicates that the same' shift occurs whether) seating .is' .present vorinot and .that for eachmouth there is .a definite point .of .change. Further, it is found thatfor accuracy and real value the Gothic trace mustbetaken with .the

laws in tooth seating position and: that .the'

change therefrom isthe source of many troubles. The primary object of the present invention is to provide mean'slfor determining: the centric line, or line which determines the position of the meeting surfaces of the teeth as the jaws close.

{Ioprovide means for determining the proper spacing apart oftheupper and lower jaws when such position is reached, andas reflected in the" spacing apart of the base plates."

To provide means for holding the jaws in properly spaced position during the scribing "6fthe Gothic-traceJ I w w To-provide' meansto center the plates laterally termination of "the Marat-Gothic trae' 'a'nd the:

gle of shift of the condyles which occurs after the bite point is reached.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a patients face with the flesh broken away to disclose a side elevation of the base plates and the carriers therefor with vertical trace tablets secured to the upper carrier, and vertical trace scribing points secured to the lower carrier, the View showing the vertical trace scribed in closing,and over-closing the lower jaw and the scribing point at centric position.

- Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line II- II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail on the same line of one of the vertical trace scribing points, and its mounting. i Fig. 4 is a sectional plan taken on the line IV IV of Fig. 1, showing the lower carrier and Gothic trace tablet, and the vertical trace scribing points secured thereto with the vertical trace tablet in section between such points.

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper carrier.

,Fig. 6 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with the vertical trace plate and points respectively removed, and a vertically disposed scribing pin secured to the upper carrier for cooperation with the Gothic trace tablet carried by the lower base plate, the pinbeing in scribing contact with such tablet, and showing the means for limiting relative approach of the carrier plates, and the base plates carried thereby, to their properly spaced position during the scribing of .theGothic trace.

- Fig. 7 is a front elevation taken as on the line VII V1'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view taken as on the stepped line VIIIVI11 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line IX-- IX of .Fig. 6.

. Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts have been designated by numerals:

II is the lower jaw, l3 a condyle, and I5 the condyle socket. H is the ridge from which the lower teeth originally projected upward and I9 is the complementary ridgeof the upper jaw. 2| is the upper backing plate which has been formed in. usual and well known manner, seated and held on the ridge I9, as by suction or the use of well known aids for promoting adherence. 23 is the complementaryv lower backing plate, which is similarly seated and, held on the lower ridge ll. 25 and 2'! are carriers of thin sheet metal which are respectively secured, as by wax or otherwise, to the upper and lower backing plates respectively. Preferably these carriersare of spherical. conformation, that is, arcuate sections of the surface of a sphere of the four inch radius, indicated by Count Spee, the upper carrier in plan being of the general shape shown in Fig. 5, and the lower carrier of the shape shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

Projecting forwardly from the carrier 25 are a pair of pins 29 which are adapted to interchangeclamping screw 4|, the bar having along its upper flattened surface depressions 43 in any one of which the screw 3| may be seated to effect stable positioning of the sleeve with reference to the rod,

3 both against longitudinal movement along the rod or turning movement therearound.

Secured to and depending from the underside of the sleeve 31 is a vertically disposed sheet-like member 45, hereinafter designated vertical trace tablet, this tablet being likewise centrally alined fore and aft with the upper carrier 25.

, Forwardly, the carrier 2'! has a horizontal extension 41, hereinafter designated Gothic-trace tablet, this tablet, for purposes hereinafter disclosed, having a central notch 48 in its outer or forward edge.

Underlying the Gothic-trace tablet 41 and extending horizontally forward therefrom are a pair of rigidly secured pins 49 on which are detachably mounted a pair of sleeves 5| which are rigidly secured together by a transversely disposed member 53, the sleeves 5| respectively carrying at their forward ends transversely disposed hollow members in which are slidably mounted an axially alined pair of plungers 55 having their inner ends sharpened to form facing scribing pins. Each plunger 55 respectively is inwardly urged by a very light compression spring 51, the plunger 55 having a reduced diameter shank 59 to form a shoulder against which one end of the spring abuts, a complementary shoulder being formed in the hollow member 53 for the other end of the spring. The shank 59 of the plunger extends outward beyond the end of the hollow member and may have a head 60 thereon. Preferably a slot 6| is cut in one side the hollow member ad jacent the outer end, and a pin 63, adapted to slide in this slot, is secured in the shank 59. The hollow member is also provided at its outer end with a shallow notch 65 whereby the plunger may be retracted untilthe pin 63 passes beyond the end of the member and be then turned into engagement with the shallow notch 65 to hold the plunger in such retracted position until it need be released for use.

' In Fig. 6 the vertical trace mechanism just described has been removed from the upper and lower base plates 25 and 2! leaving free the protruding pins 29 from the carrier 25, and the pins 4.9,from the carrier 21. An auxiliary member 61 is placed on the carrier 21, this member having downwardly projecting-pins 69 which en'- gage in the holes 21-A, Fig. 4, and is centered thereby. Projecting upward from this member 6'! is a hub H from which a threaded pin 13 projects further upward, this pin being upwardly adjustable into contact with the underside of the upper carrier 25 before removal of the vertical trace parts and with the plungers 55 at centric level.

. The socket 33 carries at its outer end a vertically disposed sleeve 15, in which is slidably disposed a pin H, hereinafter called the Gothictrace pin, usedfor scribing traces on the Gothictracetablet ll, this pin being-held against. displacement and loss, as by a transversely disposed pin 19.

Also transversely disposed relatively to, and rigidly secured to the socketv 353, is a bar 8| which carries on its opposite outer ends hubs 83, in which are slidably disposed vertical posts 85, these posts respectively being held against turning and in desired position of vertical adjustment by means of set screws 81. At their lower ends, the posts 85 have integral hubs 89, which carry threaded pins 9|, which may be adjusted inward or outward with respect to such hubs. These threaded pins 9| have on their inner ends rotatable shoes 93, each having a notch adapted for engagement with a side edge of the Gothic-trace tablet 41. Each of the pins 9| may be turned to engage its shoe with an edge of the tablet or retract it and free it therefrom. When so retracted, the corresponding set screw 87 may be loosened and the post 85 may be raised and turned to entirely free the tablet from interference by the shoes or posts during lateral or other movement of the tablet.

Operation In using the device the wax impression is taken in usual manner, the models made, and from them the upper and lower base plates made. These plates are then placed in the mouth, as is usual, and secured therein by suction, either with or without the addition of such aids as are well known. The lower carrier is placed in the mouth and secured to the lower base plate in usual manner, as by wax, the plate being carefully centered in so placing.

The upper carrier 25 is then placed against the upper base plate 2| and centered and secured thereon. It may be found necessary in doing this to engage the socket 3| of the rod 35 on the pins 29 and to move the vertical trace tablet into engagement with the notch 48 in the center of the outer edge of the Gothic-trace tablet 41 to effect definite centering.

After setting of the upper base plate, if this tablet has been used to effect centering, it is necessary that it be removed to permit placing of the vertical-trace scribing pins. With the vertical-trace tablet removed the sleeves 5| of the vertical-trace pin holder are secured on the pins 69 and the two vertical-trace pins are retracted and held in retracted position by turning their respective pins 64 into engagement with the shallow notches 65. The vertical-trace tablet is then coated carefully-on both sides with a thin layer of wax, and is placed on and adjusted as close to the transverse member 53 as is possible without interfering with the movement of the tablet in opening and closing the mouth. The patient is required to fully open his mouth and the two plungers released against the opposite side of the tablet. The patient is caused to close his mouth and to continue the closing past the normal line of closure and until the two carriers 25 and 21 substantially contact. In this movement the plungers 55 scribe on opposite sides of the tablet arcuate lines 5?, the lower portion of these lines determinable by visual inspection so that it may be marked on the tablet for subsequent use.

After marking the centric point or line on the tablet, the auxiliary member 61 is placed on the bottom carrier 21 and centered by the pins 69.- The threaded pin 13 is then adjusted until it contacts the under surface of the upper carrier 25 with the vertical-trace scribing pins at centric. The vertical-trace tablet, together with the rod 35, is removed from the upper carrier 25 and the vertical-trace pin removed from the lower centric 21.

The socket 3'3, with the Gothic-trace pin I1 and the centering and locking mechanism is engaged, as in Fig. 6, with the pins 29 of the upper carrier 25. The posts 35 are loosened, raised, and turned to entirely free the shoes 93 from interference with movement of the Gothic-trace tablet 47, and the Gothic-trace 55, indicated for clearness only in Fig. 8, is traced by movement of the jaws in usual manner, the pin ll being lightly held in contact with the tablet by pressure of the fingers. In this movement, however, differing distinctly from usual 'practice, the lower jaw is closed until the pin 13 engages the underside of the upper carrier 25, and in the movement of the lower jaw this pin is held in such engagement, so that the trace is accomplished with the two jaws held in the exact relative positioning that they would have had, had all the teeth been present and the 'movement have been made by normal movement of the so equipped lower jaw.

Additionally a face bow may be used, in well known manner, and the condyle angles be determined for the opposite sides of the face, but such operation being not essential or confined to the present device, need not here be described.

After the Gothic-trace has been scribed on the tablet 41 the Gothic-trace pin 7! is brought, by movement of the jaws, to the center of the Gothic-trace. The posts are lowered, and turned to face the shoes 93 toward the edges of the Gothic-trace tablet, and the screws 9| run in until the notches of the shoes 93 engage the opposite edges of the Gothic-trace tablet, the shoes being oppositely tightened against the tablet to be sure that it is perfectly centered with regard to the Gothic-trace pin. The set screws 81 are then tightened to lock the posts 85 against vertical movement and the device thus centered and locked may be removed from the mouth, bringing with it the upper and lower base plates and holding these base plates in locked alinement.

After removal the models may be placed in their respective base plates and the device thus rigidly held be set up in the articulator and such subsequent operations as may be desired be performed.

It will be understood, with reference to the opposed horizontal plungers 55 and scribing pins or points thereof, that while two are shown and preferred only one is absolutely necessary.

Should one only be used it is preferable to back up the cooperating vertical trace tablet against pressure of the single scribing pin. It will also be understood while the male portions 29 and 49 respectively of the coupling parts are shown and described as projecting from the plate carriers, they may as readily be on the parts to be supported by such carriers and be received in sockets in such carriers.

It will further be understood that the nomenclature of the parts herein has been selected somewhat arbitrarily in order that as far as possible each part may have a distinctively different name from other parts, and particularly so that the Word plates could be reserved for the dentures themselves and that such selection of names has no other significance.

This case is a refile of application Serial No. 431,982 filed February 23, 1942, now abandoned. And it will be still further understood that the details of construction are, in general, selected largely for illustration only and may be varied from without in any way departing from the spirit and inventive disclosure herein shown, described and claimed.

We claim:

1. A device usable in connection with models or other jaw carried supports in a patients mouth, for determining relative closure positioning of the jaws at which correct grinding movement of the jaws takes place, said device including a flat vertically positioned record-receiving member, disposed in alinement with the fore and aft center line of the mouth, a tracing point substantially at right angles to said member, means respectively for supporting said record member from one of said models and said point from the other thereof in cooperating contact with said member, whereby, on closure of the jaws, to record on said member a curve reflecting relative approach of said jaws toward correct closure positioning, and a further curve reflecting over-closure, and form a record usable for visual determination of such correct position.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, in which said member and point are removable to permit use of said models in accomplishing further records.

3. A device usable in connection with models or other jaw carried supports in a patients mouth,

for determining, in the absence of meeting teeth; the relative closure positioning of the jaws at which correct grinding movement of th jaws takes place, said device including a thin recordreceiving plate alined vertically along the fore and aft center line of the mouth and carried by one of said supports, a pair of axially alined tracing points disposed on opposite sides of said plate and carried by the other of said supports, and means urging said points into cooperating contact with opposite sides of said plate, said points bein adapted, on closure movement of the jaws, respectively to scribe on opposite sides of said plate curves reflecting relative approach of said jaws to correct closure positioning, and over-closure movement of said jaws therebeyond.

4. A device usable in connection with models 01' other jaw carried supports in a patients mouth, for determining relative closure positioning of the jaws at which correct grinding movement of the jaws takes place, said device including a vertically positioned record-receiving member, dis posed in alinement with the fore and aft center of the mouth, a tracing point, means respectively for supporting said record member from one of said models and said point from the other thereof in scribing contact with said member, whereby, on closure of the jaws, to record on said member a curve reflecting relative approach of said jaws toward correct closure positioning, and a further curve reflecting over-closure, and form a record usable for visual determination of such correctposition.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, in which said member and point are removable to permit other use of said models.

ARCHIBALD J. BIGGER. ELMER E. FRANCIS, JR. 

